The National tribune., 1887-12-15
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What0ur Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.

tba onestion as Ia who placed the first flag on
ton of Lookout Mountain Nov. 20, loO3. Inc
White Star Division has in reserve the proof OF
having placed that divisions flag first on tue
piunacle OF Lookout Mountain, and before any
repimental or other flag of the Union army.
There was no equivocation about the matter on
thp 2Jth of November, 1868; and while Capt.
Wilson is credited, as he says, with placing his
regimenta flag at the dawn's early morn on
one OF the projections of the pinnacle OF Look
ont Mountain, be and his champions must learn
that Geary's Gag too was on the top at day
break
Can't. Wilson would crafty the living actors
0f that famous battle If he would tell them
how he got up over the nose or end rock on
that very important morning. He tells that
he first took the flag and placed il on top OF
Lookout To participants of that battle the
getting there from the nOse-end OF the mount
ain is a mystery. Ii is claimed that there was
no way ol getting on top except by going sew
eral miles backward round the northwestern
slope and beyond the palisade rock, or by
the Summertown road on the east Now for
facts As participant i'm that battle on the
front line, propose 10 state facts that chal-
lenge contradiction, except it be through OIL
cal reports of officers in command OF regiments
or higher commands.
Gen. Geary. after his severe but victorious
encounter with I.ongsireets rebel force, known
as the battle of Mauhatchie, in October, 1868,
division Oh the morning of Nov. "a, 1903, over
the Nauhatchie Creek, about two miles back
and southwest from the angle of the end OF
Lookout Mountain, at about o'clock
The Second ,Col. Cobhams) Brigade was In
advance and formed the first line extending
up 20 as near the walled rock at the top ms ms
right could reach, while his left EXTENDED down
the mounian-side fully half way TO the loot.
The First (Candy's) Brigade followed next and
the Third tGreen's) Brigade brought up the
rear. Each brigade was about 100 yards in the
rear Of the other.
The stentorian voice Of Gen. Geary was heard
away up in the mountain commanding " For
ward" With knapsacks unslung, piing up
great windrows of the only baggage the veteran
soldier possessed and with many audible re-
marks that we will never get back from this
seemingly foolish fight" the division moved
forward, the right of each brigade hugging
closely 10 the upper perpendicular rock.
We soon began TO drive back the advanced
rebel skirmish-line The movement for
ward was necessarily slow, but steady. Deep
ravines were frequently encountered, running
down the mountain-side aud all were COM
PEELED to lift themselves up the steep sides by
grasping hold Of twigs and sapplings. Rocks
and boulders of immense size were met and
passed. The enemy on top of Lookout now be-
held for the first time the Yankees approach
ing right under them, with overhanging rocks
more than a hundred feet high between them
and their foes.
Hand-grenades they used on us with little
purpose. They could not depress their artillery
enough 20 reach us, and the shells went crash
ing through the tops Of the large trees over
head. And at this stage Of the conflict, prob
ably ii o'clock a, M. we had reached and were
passing the west angle OF the end of Lookout
Mountain.
We heard down on our left at the foot of the
mountain, near the confluence Of the Wau-
Il l.
nessee River, very sharp musketry hring.
There was no artillery used. The fog or cloud
had not yet vailed from our liew the contour
of the surrounding country. We were now in
the rear of a strong force of the enemy who
were picketing at the foot of the mountain
along the Mauhatchie Greek.
Osterhauss and Mhittakere forces were
keeping mp strong fire on the rebels, who had
breastworls thrown mp TO protect their picket
line The presence of Geary's Division in the
rear OF the rebels, and the aggressive fight they
met with in their front, induced the rebels,
amounting 10 some 1900 10 surrender TO the
troops they were fighting with. Their retreat
was cut of by Geary's men, and their surren-
der was due entirely TO this flank and rear
movement. Geary continued around the end
of the mountain. meeting persistently with
strong opposition from the enemy.
In the meantime, and after the surrender OF
the rebel picket-guard, Ostelhaus and Whit
up on the lower slope of the end Of the mount.
ain, forming with their right a continuous line
down from the left of Geary's columns, and
fairly sweeping the whole end of the mountain
from the overhanging rocks TO the Tennessee
River.
And now the fog or cloud vailed the further
contest of the day till near sundown, when il
again cleared up. We approached the CraveT
House, where redoubts with artillery were met
The question Of who fought there has beer
very loosely discussed. The truth of the mat
ter is, and history will bear il out, that OF
approaching the enemy's position Gcary's lef
and Whittaker's aud 0sterhauss right strucl
this point, and each swinging left and right on
the rebel tanks the fight was soon ended b,
closing above and below them. All ar
equally entitled 10 share in the glory of thi
stubborn contest, and for the good of histor,
and our respective division and regimenta
commanders, this after-hght should cease.
Geary continued TO hold the right, and hi
brigados moved closely TO the high oyerhanginI
rock, which could not be climbed at any point
at the end of the mountain.
IL was about sundown when we approaches
the enemys stone breastwork on the line OF tn
SummertOwn road. and now we were advances
20 the east angle of the end of the mountain
The rebels opened q terrible fire on us alon
these high stone works. Darkness alone hin
dcred a charge and the capture OF the mountai
and all the rebels on il that day.
About dusk Colonel OF one OF the regiment
on our left and Of the Western army, Nv
being recently from the Army of the Potomac
rode up 10 me while we were resting an
asked what troops these were2 ] told him
was Geary's Division. He seemed beWidered
be had no idea that troops were above the
own command on the mountain, and he sur
posed that we were fresh troops Just brOugl
up from Chattanooga from Thomass army.
informed him that we were in the lead all da
close up against the top rock, and that each
our divisions were unable TO see the other O
account OF the thick fog prevailing during mO
OF the day and during the long aud stubbor
fight. lie acknowledged that we had the lea
and advance, and rode down 10 the left wheI
his command was in position. The rebels
that moment were firing at us behind I'll
broastworks on the Summertown road
During the night that followed we scramble
mp the steep mountain close TO the owe
hanging rock, 80 that no enemy could possibl
get around u.s. Quietness was ordered, both {
account of the rebel fire in our front-for v
were scarcely 100 yards from the SummertOW
Toad-and also for fear of hand -grcnades th
the rebels might throw from the top of I'll
rock above.
As shared with my good friend Capt Dayi
OF Co. @, l47th Pa, who was killed three dal
afterwards at Ringgold) a small, fiat stol
on that sharp incline Of the mountain, d
bare, slight movement Of the foot would pr
cipitate stones down the steep, whirling again
some Of our boys below, bringing many a
courteous remarks on the heads Of those abo